Duty
Raven stared out into the distance as the sun started to set, setting the sky ablaze with bright, warm light. She was meditating... sitting cross-legged chanting her mantra... "Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinth—" a high, gruff voice dissolved her mind into pieces.
"Raven? Raven, wake up! Raven!" Raven gasped. She opened her eyes. Beast Boy was calling her for something. She broke her focus and thudded to the ground. Quickly getting up, she asked him, "What is it, Beast Boy? Is there something wrong?"
"We need to talk. Alone. Now!" he said firmly. "Come on!" he grabbed her wrist and dragged her inside the tower. They skidded through the hallways until he stopped in front of his room. "Open up!" he said to it as Raven rolled her eyes. He pounded on the door with his clenched fists. It slid open, and he pulled her along inside.
As usual, he had clothes and comic books scattered all over the floor. It was almost impossible to step anywhere without skidding on a pile of dirty laundry. He let go of her arm, then sat down on the floor. "I was thinking... about... well..."
"Yeah," she urged. "Go on."
"Remember when you found that dragon sealed in one of your books? And you freed him from being trapped?" he asked hesitantly. He didn't want to say something he would regret.
"Yeah, Malchior..." her voice trailed off. "Why? What's wrong?"
"I think that spell you used... could free someone else," he replied slowly.
"Who? We don't know anyone who would be frozen in an inanimate object for—"
Raven gasped. Oh. Visions filled her mind faster than she could think, overwhelming her. Beast Boy knew what she was seeing.
A canyon. There was a rumbling sound from far away, coming closer every moment. The Titans saw a young girl running for her life, in jean shorts and a grey t-shirt. Her blonde hair rushed with the wind as a giant scorpion pursued her. It was gaining on her, getting closer to the edge. Then she was cornered. The helpless young teenager was trapped. Soon her innocent life would end. But then something happened. Something unexpected, indeed. She turned around and her eyes started glowing a fierce yellow. Her hands glowed with power as a giant boulder fell from above, crushing the monster flat.
"I..." Beast Boy didn't finish. He didn't want to say her name.
A blonde girl, with a black shirt and yellow shorts. She wore goggles and rode atop a boulder as many others streaked across the sky at her will. They swirled around, and she jumped from the front to the one in the back row, and repeated this act over again. She jumped off onto the tower roof. She commanded all four of the rocks up into a cross, where they finally collided in a burst of gravel.
He couldn't say her name. He could never face that pain again. He remained silent and more memories shot through him.
The girl again, caked with dirt. Tears streamed down her face as she turned away. She sported a steel outfit with a breastplate, shoulder and knee-pads, and steel gloves and boots. Cloth wrapped around her skin, covering it where the armor did not. The cloth was in shreds, as if the girl was tortured. A burst of light shot from her body. She gave it all her power, and shut her eyes in pain. The light faded, and the girl was turned to pure stone. Her arms were still outstretched, her were eyes still crying with horror, pain, and regret.
Raven regained her senses. Beast Boy continued speaking to her, finally willing to say something over the void of the past that was swallowing him.
"You know what I'm asking, Raven? Please?"
"Beast Boy. I don't know if I have the kind of power to—"
"You have to!" he yelled at her, cutting her off. "Raven, you have to do this. Think of her. Think of the sacrifices she made to save us all. We've waited long enough! You have to do it... for the Titans..." his voice faded into the silence.
"…For our friend."